No-bake date and oat bars

Four ingredients, no oven and they last two weeks. Goodbye, vending machine bars.

2 h 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Hands-on: 12 bars
Servings: 215 cal
Per serving: Easy
Difficulty: No bake
Method

Photo: Thomson200 · CC0

Ingredients

12 bars

Nutrition facts

per bar

215cal

Protein: 5 g9 %
Carbs: 28 g53 %
Fat: 9 g38 %
Fiber: 4 g
Sugarstotal, including the natural sugars in fruit and dairy: 17 g

Approximate values, calculated from food composition tables. They vary with the brands and cuts you use.

Step by step

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Cover

No-bake date and oat bars

Four ingredients, no oven and they last two weeks. Goodbye, vending machine bars.

1Step 1 of 6

Toast the oats and nuts

In a dry skillet with no oil, toast the oats and nuts for 4 minutes over medium heat, stirring. It's optional but multiplies the flavor: they go from tasting raw to tasting toasty.

04:004 min · Toast the oats and nuts

2Step 2 of 6

Blend the dates

In a food processor or powerful blender, process the dates on their own until they form a sticky ball. If your machine struggles, add a tablespoon of hot water.

Tip: If the dates are hard, soak them in hot water for ten minutes and drain well. Dry dates won't turn into a paste.

3Step 3 of 6

Combine everything

Add the oats, nuts, peanut butter and salt and pulse in short bursts. You want a sticky mixture with chunks, not a smooth purée.

4Step 4 of 6

Press into the pan

Transfer the mixture to an 8-inch (20 cm) square pan lined with parchment paper and press it down with the back of a spoon or another pan. Pressing hard is what keeps them from crumbling later.

Tip: Really press it, with force. This step decides whether the bars hold together or fall apart.

5Step 5 of 6

Chill and cut

At least 2 hours in the fridge. Lift the block out by the paper and cut 12 bars with a large knife, pressing straight down in one clean cut.

6Step 6 of 6

Optional chocolate

If you like, melt the chocolate and brush it on the bottom of each bar. Leave them chocolate side up on parchment until it sets.

About this recipe

Store-bought “energy” bars are often a candy bar with oats and 30 % sugar. These are literally fruit, oats and nuts pressed together: same format, same staying power in your bag, a completely different thing inside.

Dates do all the work: they sweeten and, once blended, turn into a sticky paste that holds the bar together without syrup, honey or melted chocolate.

Fifteen minutes of work, no oven, and it makes twelve bars.

Tips for getting it right

Medjool dates cost more but are much juicier. With regular dates, soaking is a must.
Wrap each bar in parchment paper so they don't stick together when you take them with you.
If they're too sticky, add a spoonful more oats; if they crumble, a spoonful more peanut butter.

Storage

2 weeks in the fridge and 3 months in the freezer. You can eat them straight from the freezer.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Do date bars have sugar?

No added sugar at all. The 17 g you see come from the dates, a dried fruit that concentrates its natural sugar along with fiber and minerals. It's not the same as table sugar, but it's not a free-for-all either: one bar is a sensible portion.

Why do my bars crumble?

Because there isn't enough date paste or they weren't pressed hard enough in the pan. The mixture should stick to your fingers; if it's dry, add two or three more dates.

Are they good before a workout?

They're great: fast-digesting carbs from the dates plus a little fat and fiber. One bar 45 to 60 minutes before is a good general guideline.

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